Gas-lighter.



F 1. WITTNEBERT.

GAS LIGHTER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1916.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

awuwntoz Fredcfl Viiiiwfier W i I 234/ may FRED JOHN WIT'INEBERT, OFJERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

GAS-LIGHTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed May 19, 1916. Serial No. 98,580.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED J OHN WVITTNE- BERT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State ofNew Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Lighters,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a lighting appliance or pocket light sodesigned as to simplify the construction of this class of lighters,increase their efiiciency and durability, and reduce the number ofcotiperating parts to a minimum.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel features, details of construction and combination of parts whichwill hereinafter be more fully set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claim.

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation; and

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the rod clearly illustrating themeans for guiding the feed spring.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which likecharacters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the severalviews, 5 denotes the igniter as its entirety, comprising a handle 6preferably constructed from a single piece of suitable material such,for instance, as wire or the like, and bent at one end to provide afinger engaging loop 7. Formed continguous with and at the opposite endof the handle 6 is a broadened U-shaped portion 8 formed by bending thehandle 6 at a point throughout its length upwardly to provide an uprightbearing 9, thence longitudinally and in a plane with the handle to forma supporting arm 10, the terminal of which is bent downwardly at rightangles thereto, forming a bearing eye 11, the bearing eye 11 alininglongitudinally with the apertured bearing 9, for slidably receiving aplunger rod 12. This plunger rod 12 is likewise constructed from asingle strand of material bent at its rear end to provide a dependingtrigger 13 and having its upper surface adjacent the forward end thereofand for a portion of its length formed with serrations or saw teeth 14providing the plunger rod with a scratching element 15. Passing throughthe plunger rod at a point rearwardly of the scratching surface 15 is acrossipin 16 serving as an abutment for one end of a helical reboundspring 17 while the opposite end of the spring engages with theconfronting face of the upstanding bearing 9. This spring encircles theplunger and the purpose of which Will be clearly understood without thenecessity of a further description thereof. A vertical upright barrel 18is formed contiguous with the upper surface of the support 10 at a pointadjacent the bearing eye 11 of the handle, and is provided atdiametrically opposite points with registering vertical guide slots 19,while securely fastened on the upper face of the support 10 at a pointadjacent the formation of the upstanding bearing 9 therewith, throughthe medium of a screw or like fastener 20 is a feed spring 21. Thisspring 21 is coiled as at 22, tending to tension the spring in orderthat the same may exert tension in the direction of the scratchingelement at all times. To this end, the free end 23 of the feed spring isextended through the diametrically opposite guide slots 19 of the barrel18, and contacts with the spark producing element 23, thus it will beseen by the engagement of the spring 21 with the spark producing element24, it will force the same into contact with the serrations of the sawteeth 14 of the scratching element 15, which upon reciprocation of theplunger rod 12, will produce a shower of sparks.

In briefly describing the operation of the device, it is to be statedthe gas is first turned on, the operator positioning the front end ofthe igniter near the jet of the gas, and by an inward pull on theplunger rod 13, the latter moves, simultaneously pressing the rodagainst the tension of the spring 17. When the operator releases hishold on the trigger 13, the plunger is freed and is projected forward,causing the spark producing element to scratch on the scratching element15, thus producing a shower of sparks and igniting the gas.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the advantages of construction and of the methodof operation will be readily appar cut to those skilled in the art towhich the invention relates, and while I have de-v scribed theprinciples of operation of the invention, together with the device whichI now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and thatsuch'changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of theclaim appended thereto.

I claim:

A gas lighter comprising a supporting shank having at one end a lateralU-shaped ofl'set provided with alined bearings, a scratching elementslidably mounted in said bearings parallel with the shank and having aspring surrounding the same and adapted to normally hold the scratchingelement in projected position, a sparking device passing through theoffset and normally held in engagement with the scratching element, andan operating finger piece formed on one end of the scratching elementand surrounding the shank to prevent turning of the scratching element.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

FRED JOHN WITTNEBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G.

